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election
year,
matters
of
religious
belief
are
once
again
highly
visible
in
the
public
square.
Some
have
tempered
their
enthusiasm
for
sound
governing
principles
by
their
concern
over
differences
in
a
candidate’s
theological
doctrine.
It
is
time
to
remind
ourselves
that
civil
government
is
not
about
a
particular
theology
but
rather
about
public
policy,
and
the
question
we
ask
is
this
one:
what
are
the
policy
principles
that
will
govern
your
administration
should
you
prevail
on
Election
Day.
For
that
answer
we
must
look
to
the
Republican
platform,
the
document
that
most
clearly
defines
your
principles,
and
those
of
your
party,
on
a
wide
range
of
topics.
Among
them
are
those
that
derive
from
Biblical
truth,
an
important
source
of
our
nation’s
political
philosophy.
As
you
know,
this
year
the
platform
proposals
received
hearty
debate
and
intense
scrutiny
by
Republican
delegates
from
every
state
just
prior
to
the
party
convention
in
Tampa.
The
platform
was
adopted
resoundingly
and
embraced
wholeheartedly
by
you
and
your
running
mate
Paul
Ryan.
From
our
perspective
as
leaders
who
are
motivated
by
Christian
faith,
it
is
a
remarkably
strong
document
and
we
congratulate
you
for
it.
On
those
matters
of
social
policy
that
address
our
deepest
concerns-­‐-­‐
the
sanctity
of
human
life,
compassion
for
the
downtrodden
and
persecuted,
the
identity
of
the
family,
and
religious
freedom,
the
Republican
platform
speaks
clearly
and
powerfully.
Its
principles
are
squarely
within
the
Judeo-­‐Christian
tradition,
and
we
affirm
the
compelling
words
that
convey
its
positions.
Here
are
some
of
them:
Sanctity
of
Human
Life
“Faithful
to
the
‘self-­‐evident’
truths
enshrined
in
the
Declaration
we
assert
the
sanctity
of
human
life
and
affirm
that
the
unborn
child
has
a
fundamental
individual
right
to
life
which
cannot
be
infringed.
We
support
a
Human
Life
Amendment
to
the
Constitution
and
endorse
legislation
to
make
clear
that
the
Fourteenth
Amendment’s
protections
apply
to
unborn
children…
(p.
14)”
“We
also
salute
the
many
states
that
have
passed
laws
for
informed
consent,
mandatory
waiting
periods
prior
to
an
abortion,
and
health-­‐protective
clinic
regulation.
We
seek
to
protect
young
girls
from
exploitation
through
a
parental
consent
requirement;
and
we
re-­‐affirm
our
moral
obligation
to
assist,
rather
than
penalize,
women
challenged
by
an
unplanned
pregnancy
(p.14).”
Defense
of
Marriage
“A
serious
threat
to
our
country’s
constitutional
order…is
an
activist
judiciary,
in
which
some
judges
usurp
the
powers
reserved
to
other
branches
of
government.
A
blatant
example
has
been
the
court-­‐ ordered
redefinition
of
marriage
in
several
states…It
is
an
assault
on
the
foundations
of
our
society,

challenging
the
institution
which,
for
thousands
of
years
in
virtually
every
civilization,
has
been
entrusted
with
the
rearing
of
children
and
the
transmission
of
cultural
values.
“That
is
why
Congressional
Republicans
took
the
lead
in
enacting
the
Defense
of
Marriage
Act,
affirming
the
right
of
the
states
and
the
federal
government
not
to
recognize
same-­‐sex
relationships
licensed
in
other
jurisdictions…We
affirm
our
support
for
a
constitutional
amendment
defining
marriage
as
the
union
of
one
man
and
one
woman.
We
applaud
the
citizens
of
the
majority
of
states
which
have
enshrined
in
their
constitutions
the
traditional
concept
of
marriage,
and
we
support
the
campaigns
underway
in
several
other
states
to
do
so
(p.10).”
Religious
Freedom
“The
Republican
Party
includes
Americans
from
every
faith
and
tradition,
and
our
policies
and
positions
respect
the
right
of
every
American
to
follow
his
or
her
beliefs
and
underscore
our
reverence
for
the
religious
freedom
envisioned
by
the
Founding
Fathers
of
our
nation
and
of
our
party
(p.
9).”
“We
pledge
to
respect
the
religious
beliefs
and
rights
of
conscience
of
all
Americans
and
to
safeguard
the
independence
of
their
institutions
from
government...we
assert
every
citizen’s
right
to
apply
religious
values
to
public
policy
and
the
right
of
faith-­‐based
organizations
to
participate
fully
in
public
programs
without
renouncing
their
beliefs,
removing
religious
symbols,
or
submitting
to
government-­‐ imposed
hiring
practices
(p.12).”
Religious
Persecution
“To
those
who
stand
in
the
darkness
of
tyranny,
America
has
always
been
a
beacon
of
hope,
and
so
it
must
remain…Religious
minorities
across
the
Middle
East
are
being
driven
from
their
ancient
homelands,
fanaticism
leaves
its
bloody
mark
on
both
West
and
East
Africa,
and
even
among
America’s
Western
friends
and
allies,
pastors
and
families
are
penalized
for
their
religious
convictions.
A
Republican
administration
will
return
the
advocacy
of
religious
liberty
to
a
central
place
in
our
diplomacy
(p.
45).”
Human
Trafficking
“As
we
approach
the
150th
anniversary
of
the
Emancipation
Proclamation,
signed
by
the
first
Republican
President,
Abraham
Lincoln,
we
are
reminded
to
be
vigilant
against
human
bondage
in
whatever
form
it
appears.
We
will
use
the
full
force
of
the
law
against
those
who
engage
in
modern-­‐day
forms
of
slavery,
including
the
commercial
exploitation
of
children
and
the
forced
labor
of
men,
women
and
children
(p.46).”
Non-­‐discrimination
“…We
consider
discrimination
based
on
sex,
race,
age,
religion,
creed,
disability
or
national
origin
unacceptable
and
immoral.
We
will
strongly
enforce
antidiscrimination
statutes
and
ask
all
to
join
us
in
rejecting
the
forces
of
hatred
and
bigotry
and
in
denouncing
all
who
practice
or
promote
racism,
anti-­‐ Semitism,
ethnic
prejudice,
or
religious
intolerance
(p.9).”

2

“The
Republican
Party
includes
Americans
from
every
faith
and
tradition,
and
our
policies
and
positions
respect
the
right
of
every
American
to
follow
his
or
her
beliefs
and
underscore
our
reverence
for
the
religious
freedom
envisioned
by
the
Founding
Fathers
of
our
nation
and
of
our
party
(p.9).”
These
then
are
some
of
the
concepts
in
the
Republican
platform
that
speak
to
the
moral
principles
at
stake
in
today’s
society.
No
such
document
will
satisfy
everyone,
and
its
enactment
will
only
be
as
vigorous
as
the
political
leaders
we
elect.
Nonetheless,
the
platform
is
a
strong
statement
of
social
principles,
and
we
encourage
everyone
to
judge
it
for
themselves
(it
is
available
at
http://whitehouse12.com/republican-­‐party-­‐platform/).
In
the
confusing
moral
thickets
of
our
day,
this
is
a
political
compass
that
provides
clear
and
sharp
direction,
a
guide
that
is
sorely
needed
by
our
country’s
office
holders.
Once
again
we
congratulate
you
and
the
Republican
Party
for
your
diligent
work
in
producing
the
2012
platform.
Cc:
Reince
Priebus,
Chairman
Republican
National
Committee
Signed
by
the
following
as
individuals
(affiliations
listed
for
identification
purposes
only)
Raymond
Ruddy
President,
Gerard
Health
Foundation
Margaret
H.
(“Peggy”)
Hartshorn,
Ph.D.
President,
Heartbeat
International
Kristan
Hawkins
President,
Students
for
Life
of
America
Leonard
Leo
Director,
The
Catholic
Association
Joel
Belz
Founder,
World
Magazine
Joseph
A.
Brinck
President,
Sanctity
of
Life
Foundation
Raymond
L.
Flynn
Former
Mayor
of
Boston
and
U.S.
Ambassador
to
the
Vatican
Rev
Louis
P.
Sheldon
Chairman
and
Founder,
Traditional
Values
Coalition
Tom
Minnery
Executive
Director,
Citizen
Link
Jonathan
Falwell
Thomas
Road
Baptist
Church
Ralph
Reed
President,
Faith
and
Freedom
Coalition
Anthony
Lauinger
Executive
Vice
President,
National
Right
to
Life
Dr.
Jack
C.
Willke,
MD
President,
Life
Issue
Institute
James
Bopp,
Jr.
The
Bopp
Law
Firm
Andrea
S.
Lafferty
President,
Traditional
Values
Coalition

Fr.
Frank
Pavone
National
Director,
Priests
for
Life
President,
National
Pro-­‐life
Religious
Council

Tim
Wildmon
President,
American
Family
Association
and
American
Family
Radio
Jim
Daly
President,
Focus
on
the
Family
Tony
Perkins
President,
Family
Research
Council
Gary
Bauer
President,
American
Values
Jerry
Falwell,
Jr.
Chancellor
and
President
Liberty
University
Frank
Wright,
Ph.D.
President
and
CEO
National
Religious
Broadcasters